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Application Process

Program Information

Students should begin the process by meeting with an OSA advisor to discuss their needs, interests, and options. The OSA maintains files on each study abroad option, including evaluations by former participants, to help students select the program best suited to their needs and interests. A list of former participants who are willing to discuss their experiences is also available.

Deadlines

The deadline for most programs is in the semester preceding the term abroad. The Pomona Application, along with the Secondary Program Provider Application (where necessary) must be submitted by each application's appropriate deadline. Some programs, such as Programs by Petition, Middlebury Programs, Cambridge, Cape Town-Globalization, Edinburgh, Jerusalem, London-MoBio, London-Neuro, Oxford, and Tokyo require an advising session with a member of the OSA prior to submitting an application.

Early Application by Students Leaving Campus

Students who will not be in Claremont during the semester preceding the proposed semester abroad should contact the OSA to make arrangements for completing the application process. Applications are due by the on-campus deadline; however, students are strongly encouraged to submit completed applications during the semester before leaving Claremont.

Application Forms

In addition to Pomona College applications, most students will need to complete a Secondary Application required by their program provider (e.g., IES, Middlebury College, SIT, etc.). Students are responsible for obtaining and submitting the appropriate forms to the OSA and the program provider, when applicable, by the OSA deadline. Information on obtaining these applications is available in the Applicants section of the OSA website. Students applying to Cambridge, Cape Town-Globalization, Edinburgh, London Neuroscience, London Molecular Biology, or Tokyo must pick up an application packet in person from the OSA.

The OSA will request a copy of the official Pomona transcripts for all students who complete an online application for study abroad. Transcripts will be available to pick up in the OSA the week of our deadline. If the Secondary Application is due before the Pomona deadline, applicants must make arrangements with the OSA to request a copy of the transcript earlier. It is each student's responsibility to send their transcript to the program provider, except where Pomona submits applications on the student’s behalf (see Secondary Application page). Some program providers provide students with the option of completing an application online. If you choose to complete an online application, we recommend you download a paper copy for your file.

Interviews

Students in selective applicant pools may be interviewed by a subcommittee appointed by the SAC. Students in such pools may be permitted to apply to an alternate program. The faculty member(s) will review the qualifications of the applicants, as well as their motivation for going abroad. The acceptance decision is made by the SAC, not the interviewing faculty member(s). Failure to appear for the scheduled interview will result in an evaluation based solely on the written application. Students who submit an early application for a subsequent semester and who are away from campus during the semester of application do not receive a faculty interview and will be evaluated on the merit of their written application.

Notification and Acceptance

The OSA will notify students of the SAC's decisions. Notification is sent by email before fall break or spring vacation. SAC approval does not guarantee final acceptance to a study abroad program. Participation in the program is contingent upon approval by the program provider and continued good academic and disciplinary standing in the current semester. This includes satisfactory completion of all program prerequisite courses and related language courses. In addition, students should maintain the GPA required for the program.

Accepted students must return a signed acceptance agreement by the deadline specified in the acceptance letter, indicating their intent to participate. Students who do not submit their acceptance agreements by the deadline may be removed from the list of study abroad participants. After the acceptance agreement deadline, participation information and required forms will be available to students online. It is important that students submit all required OSA forms and respond to all requests from the program provider in a timely manner. Failure to do so will result in automatic withdrawal from the program.

Passports and Visas

Obtaining a passport and a visa is the responsibility of the student. A passport is obtained from the country of citizenship and a visa (or other entry requirement) is obtained from the destination country. Generally, passport processing takes four to six weeks but may vary depending on the time of year and occasional unforeseen circumstances.

Students must have a passport at the time of application and must submit a photocopy with their online study abroad application.

Several program providers also require a passport copy as part of the application. Passports must be valid for six months after the overseas stay. The OSA recommends that at least one parent or guardian also holds a valid passport during the student's semester abroad for the rare case in which they may need to travel to be with their student in an emergency.

A valid passport is needed in order to apply for a visa. Visa applications and fees are the responsibility of the student. Students may apply for a visa stipend from the OSA to cover the cost of a visa, if required. Students must provide documentation of the fee with their visa stipend request. The visa stipend does not cover costs associated with applying for a visa, including but not limited to: photos, mailings, medical exams, fingerprinting, background checks, travel to the consulate, rush fees, or visa processing services such as Travisa. Students may find information about obtaining visas from the embassy of the country in which they plan to study, or from the U.S. State Department website: www.travel.state.gov. Students whose programs are sponsored by an outside organization also should consult with their program provider.

Study Abroad Orientation Meetings

The OSA organizes two mandatory orientation sessions toward the end of the semester: 1) a general orientation meeting covering Pomona's study abroad procedures and policies, and 2) a program-specific meeting for approved programs. Absences may be excused only because of conflicts with a scheduled course activity or because of participation in a varsity game. Students should submit a written request for an excused absence before the orientation session. Students with excused absences will receive a written make-up assignment from the OSA. Orientation Packets with program information are distributed at the program-specific meetings.

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